Machine for manipulating pipes

ABSTRACT

A column machine that stands on a deck. The deck includes a rack, a protective cover associated with the rack, and a first and a second rail. The column machine includes a moveable upper device, a drive wheel, an upper carriage connected to the upper device, a lower carriage comprising a first track, a second track, and a protection holder, and a column arranged between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. The drive wheel is arranged in a vertical plane of the column machine and extends parallel relative to a longitudinal direction of the first and second rails. The drive wheel moves along the rack. The first track and the second track cooperate with the first and second rails. The protection holder uncovers the rack in a first area close to the drive wheel so that the remaining areas of the rack remain covered by the protective cover.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/058561, filed on Apr. 28, 2014 and which claims benefit to Norwegian Patent Application No. 20130591, filed on Apr. 30, 2013. The International Application was published in English on Nov. 6, 2014 as WO 2014/177498 A2 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a column machine which, for example, can be used on an offshore or onshore platform. The column machine is useful in connection with moving pipes, such as drill pipes, between different stations on a platform. The moving of pipes can be carried out between a fingerboard, the pipe storage location, and a well center in/close to the drilling derrick. The expression “column machine” according to the present invention should be understood as a machine comprising a substantially vertical column with appropriate equipment for e.g., pipe handling.

BACKGROUND

Column machines are known in the technical field for moving pipes around on a drill floor. They usually consist of a column that extends between an upper and a lower carriage, which upper and lower carriages run in parallel on rails arranged on the drill floor and in connection with the drilling derrick. A toothed wheel connected to the lower carriage of the column machine usually lies in a horizontal plane and is arranged in a depression in the drill floor for cooperation with a rack in the deck for movement of the lower carriage which moves the column machine. This results in the depression being both broad and deep, with a danger of personnel stumbling into the depression and injuring themselves. The upper carriage, with an associated vertical column, is typically suspended from the drilling derrick so that the derrick takes up the weight of the column machine and any pipes in the process of being moved.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,401 describes an apparatus for the vertical handling of well pipes. Guiding means are arranged at the top and the bottom with separate motors, gears, transmissions, and racks for ensuring an advance in unison. The apparatus is further configured with two pairs of tracks or rails and one toothed wheel per rail pair, and two portions on either side of the rack.

WO 01/36783 A1 describes an example of a protective cover for a pipe racking system. The protective cover is movable. One end of the protective cover is connected to the pipe racking system mechanism which moves along the track. The other end is spooled onto a drum, which drum has a motor. The motor controls the drum on the basis of the movement of the pipe racking system on the track, whereby the protective cover is rolled out or taken in on the drum, so as to cover/uncover the track along which the pipe racking system moves. It is further disclosed that there may be a drum with a protective cover on both sides of the pipe racking system.

EP 0832829 A1 describes another solution for a protective cover to prevent objects from falling into the track. The cover is made of two halves that extend over a channel and lie edge to edge in the middle.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved column machine system that reduces or minimizes some of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. An aspect of the present invention is in particular to prevent injury to persons.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a column machine that stands on a deck. The deck includes at least one rack, at least one protective cover associated with the at least one rack, a first rail, and a second rail. The column machine includes at least one upper device configured to be movable, at least one drive wheel, an upper carriage connected to the at least one upper device, a lower carriage comprising a first track, a second track, and at least one protection holder, and a column arranged between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. The at least one drive wheel is arranged substantially in a vertical plane of the column machine and extends parallel relative to a longitudinal direction of each of the first rail and the second rail. The at least one drive wheel is configured to move along the at least one rack. The first track and the second track are configured to cooperate with the first rail and the second rail. The at least one protection holder is configured to uncover the at least one rack in a first area close to the at least one drive wheel so that the remaining areas of the at least one rack remain covered by the at least one protective cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in greater detail below on the basis of embodiments and of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a column machine according to the present invention in a front side view;

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a column machine according to the present invention in an oblique view from above;

FIG. 3 shows a first perspective view of a section A in FIG. 1 with a protective cover lifted up;

FIG. 4 shows is a second perspective view of a section A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a third perspective view of a section A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a section B in FIG. 2 of an upper end of a column machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a section of an upper end of the column machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a column machine that stands on a deck, the deck comprising at least one toothed rack, at least one protective cover in connection with the rack, and at least a first and second rail, wherein the column machine comprises a column that is connected to an upper and a lower carriage, which upper carriage is connected to at least one upper movable device, and further a lower carriage, the lower carriage comprising at least two tracks for cooperation with the at least first and second rails, and at least one drive wheel for movement along the at least one rack, which at least one drive wheel is arranged substantially in the vertical plane of the column machine and extending parallel in relation to the longitudinal direction of the at least first and second rails, and wherein the lower carriage further comprises at least one protection holder, which at least one protection holder uncovers the rack in an area close to the at least one drive wheel, whereby the other areas of the rack are covered by the protective cover.

The present invention provides a column machine with several advantages compared with those of the prior art, including:

-   -   that the weight of the column machine, including any load, is         transferred to the drill floor, which gives a lower center of         gravity;     -   reducing the risk of personnel stumbling into the depression         where the rack/pinion was previously arranged;     -   preventing objects from falling down onto the rack; and     -   allowing the column machine a small angular deflection between         the upper carriage and the lower carriage.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least first and second rails can, for example, be substantially parallel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one drive wheel can, for example, be a pinion, and the rack can, for example, be a cooperating rack.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper carriage can, for example, be configured with a spherical bearing which allows an angular deflection and/or a relative axial movement of a column between the upper carriage and the lower carriage. The configuration of the spherical bearing also facilitates installation and removal of the column, for example, in connection with maintenance operations or the like. The spherical bearing may comprise first and second halves, which halves may be circular and together form a closed circle. The spherical bearing may, for example, be constructed of two circular halves that are hinged at one of their terminations and detachably secured by screws/bolts at their other termination. In an embodiment, the upper carriage will support the column horizontally and will not take up any vertical loads, this being done by the spherical bearing. All vertical loads from the column, including any load in the column, passes via the lower carriage down into the drill floor. Only the weight of the upper carriage, an upper horizontal rail to which the carriage is secured, and cabling/hosing for the upper carriage, is borne by the drilling derrick.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an inner surface of the spherical bearing can, for example, have a curved cone shape.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least first and second rails can, for example, be recessed into the deck. This may be desirable both for the top and the bottom of the rails. Arranging the rails in such a way prevents personnel from tripping on the rails, either by stumbling down onto the rails or by tripping on an elevation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rack can, for example, be arranged substantially flush with the deck so that no parts of the rack are at a higher level than the deck. To achieve this, the top of the rack is, for example, at the same level as the deck while the other parts of the rack are arranged down in the deck.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the column machine can, for example, further comprise a spring device connected to the drive wheel, which spring device is able to cause the drive wheel to be allowed a vertical movement relative to the rack. The drive wheel may be configured with a spring device having vertical adjustment that provides that the drive wheel is in correct engagement with the rack. The spring device can be configured to yield should small things or objects come down into/onto the rack. A first gearbox may be connected to the spring device, which gearbox may further be coupled to two angular gears on each side. The upper ends of the angular gears may further be connected with their respective electromotor. These elements, i.e., the drive wheel, spring device, angular gears, and electromotors, constitute a module or unit which enables the drive wheel to run over smallish objects etc. lying on/in the rack.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover can, for example, comprise two parts, a first and a second part, which are fastened to their respective long side of the guideway in which the rack in arranged, so that the two parts together cover the whole rack. In this embodiment, a seam is formed in the protective cover. The first part can overlap over or under the second part. The protective cover can alternatively comprise one part that extends over the whole rack. In use, the form of the protection holder will cause the first part of the protective cover, i.e., the part of the protective cover that is in contact with the protection holder, and adjacent parts of the first protective cover, to be lifted up so that the drive wheel comes into direct contact with the rack while the rest of the protective cover lies on the rack. The protective cover can be configured so that the part of the protective cover which at any given time is lifted up can easily roll or slide along the protection holder as the column machine is moved on the rack. To achieve this, the protection holder may comprise rollers or smooth surfaces which provide little friction between the protective cover and the protection holder on movement of the column machine.

The present invention further comprises a method for operation of a column machine, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   moving the column machine by rotating at least one drive wheel         along a rack arranged in a deck; and     -   using a protection holder to remove a protective cover from the         rack in an area close to the at least one drive wheel.

The method may further comprise operation of the column machine where a spring device is connected to the drive wheel, and where the spring device, in the event of obstacles in the rack, can cause the drive wheel to move vertically relative to the rack.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which like parts have been given like reference numerals.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a column machine according to the present invention, where FIG. 1 is a front side view, while FIG. 2 is an oblique view from above.

The column machine 1 comprises a lower carriage 2 arranged to be moved along a rack 7 on a deck, an upper carriage 9 arranged in the upper end of the column machine 1 and which can be moved along an upper rail 21, which upper rail 21 is, for example, secured to a drilling derrick (not shown in the drawings). In this way, the column machine 1, including upper carriage 9 and lower carriage 2, is moved parallel to a deck. The column machine 1 is further shown with a gripping device 30 that can be moved up and down along the column 12 and extended at a variable distance in relation to the longitudinal axis of a column 12. The gripping device 30 is used in connection with pipe handling. Also shown is an upper guide arm 19 and a lower guide arm 20 arranged above and below the gripping device 30 (which can be provided as a gripping arm). The upper guide arm 19 and the lower guide arm 20 are shown in a retracted position.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show sections of the lower part of a column machine 1 according to the present invention, where the lower carriage 2 is shown with a motor arrangement 23 connected to a drive wheel 4. The drive wheel 4 is arranged essentially in the same vertical plane as the column machine 1. There is also provided a protection holder 5 on the lower carriage 2, in proximity to the drive wheel 4, and a first track 16 a and a second track 16 b on each side of the drive wheel 4. The column machine 2 rests on a deck 10. The deck 10 is provided with a first rail 3 a a and second rail 3 b for cooperation with the first track 16 a and the second track 16 b on the column machine 1. The first rail 3 a and the second rail 3 b can, for example, be recessed into the deck 10 so as to prevent personnel from stumbling down into them or from tripping if the first rail 3 a and the second rail 3 b are arranged as shoulders (not shown in the drawings). At least one rack 7 is further arranged substantially flush with the deck 10. This configuration is also intended to prevent personnel from stumbling into the deck/recess in which the rack 7 is arranged. The rack 7 is oriented cooperatingly with the drive wheel 4, and can, for example, be arranged as a rack 7 over which the drive wheel 4 can run. To prevent objects, such as tools, loose elements etc., from falling onto the rack 7 and remaining on the rack 7, a protective cover 6 is provided (see in particular FIG. 3 where the protective cover 6 is lifted up in the area in which the drive wheel 4 is at any given time) over the rack 7. The protective cover 6 is configured so that it at all times protects the part of the rack 7 in which the column machine 1 is not standing. The protective cover 6 can be arranged so that it consists of two parts (first part 6 a and second part 6 b) which are fastened to their respective long side of the guideway in which the rack 7 is arranged, and that the first part 6 a and the second part 6 b together cover the rack 7. This design means that a seam is formed in the protective cover 6, for example, in the middle of the rack 7, if the first part 6 a and the second part 6 b are equally wide. The first part 6 a can also overlap over or under the second part 6 b. The protective cover 6 may alternatively consist of one part that extends over the whole width of the rack 7. In use, the form of the protection holder 5 will cause (compare the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3) the first part 6 a of the protective cover 6, i.e., the part of the protective cover 6 that is in contact with the protection holder 5, and adjacent portions of the first part 6 a, to be lifted up so that the drive wheel 4 comes into direct contact with the rack 7 while the rest of the protective cover 6 will lie on the rack 7 so as to cover it. The protection holder 5 is configured so that the part of the protective cover 6 which at any given time is lifted up can easily roll or slide along the protection holder 5 as the column machine 1 is moved along the rack 7. To achieve this, the protection holder 5 comprises, for example, rollers or smooth surfaces which provide little friction between the protective cover 6 and the protection holder 5 on movement of the column machine 1.

The weight of the column machine 1, with any load, will essentially be taken up by the first rail 3 a and the second rail 3 b. A minimum, if any at all, of the weight is thus taken up in the upper rail 21 (optionally the derrick). The drive wheel 4 may be configured with a spring device 22 (details shown in FIG. 4) having vertical adjustment that provides that the drive wheel 4 is in correct engagement with the rack 7. The spring device 22 is configured so that it yields if, contrary to expectation, small things or objects get into the rack 7. A first gearbox (not shown in the drawings) is connected to the spring device 22, which gearbox is further connected to two angular gears (not shown in the drawings). The upper ends of the angular gears are further connected to their respective electromotor. These elements, i.e., the drive wheel 4, the spring device 22, the angular gears, and electromotors constitute a module or unit which enables that the drive wheel 4 to run over smaller objects etc. which lie on/in the rack 7. A person of skill in the art will know how this should be designed and it is therefore not described further herein.

At least a first stop device 8 a and a second stop device 8 b provide that the column machine 1 is not damaged, or causes damage to other devices, through collision with other devices which may be located in the range of movement of the column machine 1 on the deck 10. In the drawings, only the first stop device 8 a and the second stop device 8 b are shown on one side of the column machine 1, it is, however, also possible to arrange the first stop device 8 a and the second stop device 8 b on the opposite side of the column machine 1. Examples of other devices can be other column machines 1 arranged on the same rack 7 or other elements that are normally found on a deck 10.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an upper end of a column machine 1 according to the present invention. An upper carriage 9 is arranged at the upper end. A column 12 extends between the lower carriage 2 and the upper carriage 9. The upper carriage 9 is shown with a first upper pinion 14 a and a second upper pinion 14 b for cooperation with an upper rack 13 on the upper rail 21, which upper rail 21 can be fastened to a derrick (not shown in the drawings). There is further provided a plurality of wheels 18 on the upper carriage 9 against the upper rail 21 to reduce the friction of the upper carriage 9 along the upper rail. The upper carriage 9 further comprises a spherical bearing 11, through which spherical bearing 11 the column 12 extends. The spherical bearing 11 does not bear any of the load of the column 12, but merely acts as a guideway for the column 12. The configuration of the spherical bearing 11 allows an angular deflection and/or a relative axial movement of the column 12 between the upper carriage 9 and the lower carriage 2. The spherical bearing 11 is composed of a semi-circular first half 11 a and a semi-circular second half 11 b. The semi-circular first half 11 a and the semi-circular second half 11 b are through their terminations secured to each other by hinges and/or screws/bolts 17. The inside of the semi-circular first half 11 a and the semi-circular second half 11 b of the spherical bearing 11 has a C-shape (see the details in FIG. 7), or a curved cone shape, on the side that is tangent to the column 12. It is this shape that allows the angular deflection between the lower carriage 2 and the upper carriage 9. The spherical bearing 11 further allows that the column 12 can be moved freely in the axial direction, and that the column 12 can easily be removed or installed in connection with maintenance operations or the like.

The first upper pinion 14 a and the second upper pinion 14 b will, together with the upper rack 13, form an upper movable device.

FIG. 7 shows a section of an upper end of the column machine 1, and in more detail a section through the spherical bearing 11. The curved cone shape of the spherical bearing 11 against the column 12 can clearly be seen.

When operating the column machine 1 according to the present invention, the column machine 1 can be moved by rotating the at least one drive wheel 4 along the rack 7 in the deck 10. When the column machine 1 is moved, the at least one protection holder 5, which is arranged on the column machine 1, will lift the protective cover 6 off the rack 7 in the area where of the at least one drive wheel 4. The spring device 22 can furthermore be arranged in connection with the drive wheel 4. The spring device 22 will, in the event of obstacles in the rack 7, cause the drive wheel 4 to be moved vertically relative to the rack 7 if there are small objects etc. lying in/on the rack.

The embodiment described herein is only intended for illustration purposes and should by no means be regarded as limiting. It should be clear that a person of skill in the art could make modifications or changes to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Reference should also be had to the appended claims. 

What is claimed is: 1-11. (canceled)
 12. A column machine that stands on a deck, the deck comprising: at least one rack; at least one protective cover associated with the at least one rack; a first rail; and a second rail; the column machine comprising: at least one upper device configured to be movable; at least one drive wheel arranged substantially in a vertical plane of the column machine and to extend parallel relative to a longitudinal direction of each of the first rail and the second rail, the at least one drive wheel being configured to move along the at least one rack; an upper carriage connected to the at least one upper device; a lower carriage comprising a first track, a second track, and at least one protection holder, the first track and the second track being configured to cooperate with the first rail and the second rail, and the at least one protection holder being configured to uncover the at least one rack in a first area close to the at least one drive wheel so that the remaining areas of the at least one rack remain covered by the at least one protective cover; and a column arranged between the upper carriage and the lower carriage.
 13. The column machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the first rail and the second rail are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other.
 14. The column machine as recited in claim 12, wherein, the at least one drive wheel is a pinion, and the at least one rack is a cooperating rack.
 15. The column machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the upper carriage comprises a spherical bearing which is configured to allow at least one of an angular deflection and a relative axial movement of the column between the upper carriage and the lower carriage.
 16. The column machine as recited in claim 15, wherein the spherical bearing comprises a first half and a second half.
 17. The column machine as recited in claim 15, wherein the spherical bearing comprises an inner surface shaped as a curved cone.
 18. The column machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the first rail and the second rail are each recessed into the deck.
 19. The column machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one rack is arranged so as to be substantially flush with the deck.
 20. The column machine as recited in claim 12, further comprising a spring device connected to the at least one drive wheel, the spring device being configured to allow a vertical movement of the at least one drive wheel relative to the at least one rack.
 21. A method for operating the column machine as recited in claim 12, the method comprising: moving the column machine by rotating the at least one drive wheel along the at least one rack arranged in the deck; and using the at least one protection holder to remove the at least one protective cover from the at least one rack in the first area close to the at least one drive wheel.
 22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the column machine further comprises a spring device connected to the at least one drive wheel, the spring device being configured to allow a vertical movement of the at least one drive wheel relative to the at least one rack, the method further comprising operating the column machine so that, if an obstacle is present in/on the at least one rack, the spring device moves the at least one drive wheel vertically relative to the at least one rack. 